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7 tourists dead, 12 missing in SW China floods

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-12 10:57

CHONGQING: Seven tourists were killed and 12 others remained missing after a rainstorm triggered floods in a canyon in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Saturday, the local government said Sunday.

A 35-member tourist group entered an undeveloped mountainous area of the Tanzhangxia Canyon scenic spot in Wanzhou District Saturday afternoon under the guidance of a local resident, according to the government of Wanzhou District.

However, a downpour quickly triggered mountain torrents and flushed away most of the tourists at about 4 pm.

The expedition was set up via a Chongqing-based travel website and they did not notify the administration of the scenic spot about their journey or get approval of the local tourism authorities, said Pu Binbin, secretary-general of the Wanzhou District Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Related readings:  China allocates 170m yuan in flood-control subsidies  Flood control and rescue drill held in east China  $24.89M allocated in flood-control subsidies  Flood kills 8 in SW China, 8 missing  Heavy rainfall to continue in South China

More than 400 rescuers retrieved the bodies of seven people and rescued 16 others as of Sunday morning after more than ten hours of efforts.

The injured are in stable conditions in a hospital.

The rescue headquarters are identifying the victims.

More rescuers are joining the search for the 12 missing tourists.